Method and apparatus for the formation of piling



April 7, 1925. 1,532,711

D. NEWTON METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE FORMATION OF FILING Original Filed April 21, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet l IL v v I Fi .2 .1 12 i 1 18 3 f4 7,2 10 15 if I i 7 t 1 f l U s m i i fl A 11 i I! 11, ,l l 7,7

16 i 17 l U I 17011 aid M E Gregor Newton Aprin, 192s. 1,532,711

'- D. M G. NEWTON METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR THE FORMATION OF FILING Original Filed April 21, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 16 .10" H 41 H 1% 10 k Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

UNITED; STATES I I 1,532,111 PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD McG-REGO'R NEWTON, OF MONTGLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO MAC- ARTHUR CONCRETE PILE & FOUNDATION (30., INCL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .5. CORE PORATION OF DELAWARE.

METHOD AND APPARATUS ron' rim roarLATIoN or Prune.

Application filed April 21, 1920, Serial No. 375,644. Renewed October 14, 19 24;

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, DONALD MCGREGOR NEWTON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of the county of Essex,

city of Montolair, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for the Formation of Piling.

This invention relates to the formation of 10 iling and moreparticularly to the forma stron tion of piles composed of concrete or similar material.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved method and means whereby a pile may be firmly set in the earth.

- A further object is to provide a simple and eflicient method of forming a pile having a maximum strength and permanence.

Another object is to be predicated to the provision of simple and inexpensive apparatus which may be easily manipulated to form such a pile. I

Still another object is-that of providing an improved method and apparatus whereby a strong pile may be firmly set in soft earth,

closure, and the scope of theapplication of' whichwill be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying 1 drawing, in which: Y

of forming -Fi gur es 1 to 5. are views illustrating vari- V ous steps in one'method of forming a pile;

l lig. 'Gijis" a view of the'completed pile; Figs. 7 and 8 are views showing'a method piles which isparticularly adapted for use in unusually softsoils.

In-the present exemplification ofgthe ine 'vention, the pile-forming apparatus includes a casing 10 which is adapted to be inserted in and withdrawn from the earth and to contain a charge of plastic foundation material, as, for instance, concrete. The casing consists of a tubular shell. 11, the walls of which are adapted to maintain out of contact with the surrounding earth the foundation material contained in .the casing and which, in the form illustrated, is provided with a reenforcing band 12 at its upper end and a similar band 13 at its lower end. Each of the bands 12 and 13 is provided at its outer end with an inwardly extending flange 14 forming an abutment against which the ends of, the tube 11 engage.

In order to assist in the formation of a bore in the earth in which the pile isto be formed and in order tocompact and to spread the plastic foundation material in the formation of the pile, there is provided a ram 15 which is adapted to fit within the shell 11 and which, in the present exemplification consists of a single rod comprising a stem 16 having an enlarged shoe or head 17 formed at its lower end, the head 17 having a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the area of the interior of the shell and being provided with a fiat compacting surface on its lower end. Y

The ram 15 is adapted to be readily inserted within and removed from the casing and to becontained therein when the casing is sunk into the ground. Now, with a view to -mainta=i ning the heai1; 17 adjacent the lower eri'd' of the casing where it will be effective during this operation to prevent the soil beneath the casing from entering the central, bore thereof, and with a viewto sinking both the ram and the casing simultaneously into the earth by means of pressure applied to the ram alone, there is provided on the upper end of the stem 16 a head 18 having formed on its'base a shoal. der 19 which isada'pted to engage the upper end of the casing+inthe present instance,

[the upper. flange M iwhen the head 17 is adjacent to'thelower end .ofrthe casing with its flat compacting. surface in the same plane as thebottom surface offlthe lower flange 14. Forceinay"beappliedtojthe ram 15 by any suitablejineans the ra in the present instance being provided with a cushioning 'block adapted tol receive blows from apile driver or similar device. The cushioningblock 20, as shown, is fastened upon the top of the head 18.

In the preferred form of operation of the mechanism illustrated the head 17 of the ram 15 is inserted into the bore of the casing 10 and moved therethrough until it reaches the lower end of the casing, at which time the shoulder 19 will contact with the flange l lrto prevent ,further movement. The mechanism being set upon the surface of the ground, force is then applied to the block 20 to drive the ram and the casing downwardly through the soil. When the ram and casing have been driven the required distance into the soil to a position such as shown in Fig. 1, the ram is withdrawn from the casing and a foundation material in a plastic state, such as the concrete shown iIiFig. 2, is introduced into the casing, the lower portion thereof, at least, being filled entirely with the material so as to form a column, the height of which in the casin will depend. on the size of the footing of pile which it is desired to form. The ramis then reinserted in the casing and allowed to rest a-gainst'the material and the casing is withdrawn from about the lower end of the column of material therein so as to leave a cavity between it and the surrounding walls of earth. In order to prevent these walls from breaking down and causing the earth to fall against and mix with the concrete it is desirable that the concrete be pressed into the cavity left by the withdrawal of the casing immediately upon such withdrawal, and to this end the ram 15 in the present exemplification is made sufliciently heavy so that by its weight alone as it rests on the material it will immediately exert sufficient pressure thereon to ,force the concrete against the surrounding walls of earth as the casing is withdrawn as is clearly illustrated by Fig. 3. It will be apparent from an inspection of the drawings, when it is understood that foundation pile formed is of the ordinary size, that the ram 15 is necessarily very heavy, since it is made of metal and is of ater length than the pile to be formed.

t will be readily apparent therefore that the weight of this ram alone will, in the present instance, amply suffice to press the foundation material into the conformation shown in Fig. 3 wherein it presses firmly against the walls of the bore formed in the earth by the casing. Additional force may, of course, be applied to the ram during this process if for any reason this is necessary. If it is desired to ,form a footing or pedestal for the pile, force is, as a general rule, again applied by means of a pile driver or other device to the cushioning block 20 so as to move the ram downwardly and to press the concrete from the casing and to cause it to spread outwardly into the' soil to=form a pedestal therein such as illustrated by Figs. 4; and 5; although in very soft soils the weight of the ram itself is sometimes sulficient for this purpose. .In the formation of this pedestal, as in the preliminary boring operation, the shoulder 19 acts to prevent the ram 15 from being moved through the casing farther than its position as shown in Fig. 1, so that the head 17 will be prevented from protruding into the mass of concrete below the casing and forming an indentation therein into which, upon the withdrawal of the ram, the surrounding concrete would tend to fallloosely, thus greatly weakening the pedestal and allowing the earth to fall back against the same and to 'mix with the concrete thereof. Obviously the pressure applied to the concrete will ordinarily cause the column to spread and to assume a general spherical formation although the actual shape of the edestal will be governed largely by the con orma-tion of the surrounding soil, ahard strata of soil underneath the concrete tending to form a cone-shaped pedestal, for example.

After the ram has been driven downwardly the proper distance to form the pedestal, it is again Withdrawn from the casing, and

after such withdrawalor after the first withdrawal of the ram, in case the formation of the pedestal is unnecessary-the greater portion of the casing is filled with concrete as illustrated in Fig. 5, the ram introduced into the casing, and the'head 17 allowed to rest upon the upper surface of the concrete. While the ram thus bears upon the concrete, the casing is withdrawn, the weight of the ram forcing the concrete into the cavity formed by the withdrawal of the casing as described above. Since there is thus provided a constant pressure upon the concrete, this material will be forced against the earth walls immediately upon the withdrawal of the casing, as heretofore brought out, efiectually to prevent any of the earth from falling inwardly to lessen the width of the pile or to mix with the concrete so as to decrease its strengtlr The pressure of the ram upon the concrete will of course also tend to compact the same so that a strong and durable pile such as shown in Fig. 6 W111 be formed. If necessary, of course, additional force may be applied to the ram to cause the above described spreading and compact-ing of the concrete.

Upon the final withdrawal of the casing it is desirable that the ram 15 be held therein so that the two pieces may be moved to gether to a place where the next pile is to be formed, and, in the present structure, the shoulder 19., on the head 18 will serve to prevent the ram from sliding through the casing and to hold the ram in the casing as the latter is removed from position.

In case the pile is to be formed in sand or soft soil, the invention contemplates forming a footing therefor in the manner and with the apparatus exemplified in Figs. 7 and 8. A cap 21 is removably fitted about the lower end of the casing and the casing driven into the soil by any suitable means such as by force applied to a ram such as the ram 15. A portion of the casing is then filled with concrete or other plastic foundation material, the cap acting during this process to prevent the soft soil from entering the easing. The casing is then partially withdrawn from about the material, the ram being, as a rule, first reinserted in the casing. Since the cap is removably set on the casing, it will be held in the position in the soil to which it was originally driven by its own weight and by the weightof the concrete and the ram. The formation of the pile is then continued in any suitable manner such as by the method described above in connection with the pile shown in Fig. 6. When. during this process, pressure is applied to y the concrete by means of the ram, the concrete would tend to move into the soft or sandy soil in a general downward direction were it not for the cap 21 which forms a base for the pile, and acts to prevent the downward movement of the concrete so that the pressure applied thereto will spread it outwardly into the soil so as to fill in the cavity when the casing is withdrawn; and, if suffic'ient pressure has been applied. will form a pedestal of the general shape illustrated in Fig. 8 which pedestal is substantially like the pedestal shown in Fig. 4 except that it has the cap 21 embedded in its lower surface. After the formation of such a pedestal, if

one is formed, the process may be continued to form a completed pile in the manner described above.

Since certain changes in carrying out the above process and in the construction set forth which embody the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is 1. The herein described method of forming footings in sand or soft soils, consisting in sinking a capped easing into the ground to the full depth at which the footing is to be formed, partially filling said casing with a foundation material, forcibly ramming said material and simultaneously partially withdrawing said casing, removing the cap by the withdrawal of the casing and the pressure of the ram and ramming the foundation material to compress the surrounding soil and form an enlarged footing.

2. The herein described method of forming footed concrete piles in sand or soft earth, consisting in driving a casing having a removable driving cap, into the ground to the full depth to which the pile is to extend, partially filling the casing with foundation material, ramming said foundation material and simultaneously partially withdrawing the casing to remove the cap and to provide an unlined cavity beneath the lower end of the casing, continuing the ramming of the foundation material to force the same outwardly and beyond the Walls of the cavity, thereby compressing the surrounding soil so that an enlarged footing is formed, subsequently filling the casing, and ramming the material and finally Withdrawing the casing while retaining the material under pressure to cause the material to contact with the walls of the cavity formed by the casing and form a complete column.

3. The method of forming piles which comprises introducing into a casing a ram adapted to fit snugly within the interior of the casing and having means to limit downward movement thereof in the casing when said head reaches the lower end of the casing, moving the ram downwardly in the casing until said means becomes operative, sinking the ram and the easing into the earth, withdrawing the ram, introducing a plastic foundation material into the casing, again inserting the ram into the casing and moving it downwardly therein until said head rests upon the upper surface of said material, and withdrawing the casing from about said material while applying said ram to move downwardly in the casing so as to continuously act to press material into the cavity formed by the withdrawal of the casing.

4. The method of forming piles which comprises inserting into a casing a ram normally movable with respect to the casing but having thereon means to limit the movement thereof when its end is adjacent the casing end, moving the ram into said casing until said means becomes operative, applying force to the ram to sink the ram and the easing into the earth to the full depth of the pile to be formed, withdrawing the ram, introducing a plastic foundation material into the casing, again inserting the ram and thereafter employing the ram to compact and to move said material, upon the Withdrawal of the easing, into the cavity presented by such withdrawal.

5. The method of forming piles which comprises sinking a casing into the earth, filling the casing throughout siibstantially its entire length with a charge of plastic foundation material, inserting into the easing a heavy rod adapted to rest against the upper surface of said material, and withdrawing the casing from about said material while allowing the rod of its own weight to slide-downwardly in the casing so as to act against said surface to automatically press the material into the cavity formed by the withdrawal of the casing.

6. The method of forming piles which comprises sinking a capped easing into the ground, partially filling the casing with a foundation material, inserting a ram into the casing, partially withdrawing the easing and moving the ram downwardly to remove the cap from the casing and to force the foundation material against and into the surrounding soil, withdrawing the ram from the casing, again filling the casing with a foundation material, again inserting the ram in the casing, and completely withdrawing the casing from about said material while allowing the ram to move downwardly in the casing so as to hear continuously against the upper surface of said material to press the material intothe cavity formed by the withdrawal of the casing.

Signed in the county, city, and State of New York this 10th dayof April, 1920.

DONALD MGGREGOR NEWVTON.

DISOLAI MER 1,532,7l1.-Donald McGregor Newton, Montclair, N. J. METHODIAND APPARATUe FOR THE FORMATION 0 PILING. Patent, dated April 7, 1-925. Disclaimer filed November 23, 1925, by the patentee, and assignee, MacArthur- Con'crete Pile 0% Foundation 00., Hereby enters this disclaimer of that part of said Letters Patent which is in the following Words, to Wit: F

What is claimed is r J. The herein described method of forming footings sand or soft soils, consisting in sinking a capped casing into'the ground to the full depth at which the footing is to be formed,partially-filling said casing with a foundation material, forcibly ram/ming saidma-terial and simultaneously partially withdrawing said casing, removing the cap by the withdrawal of the casing and the pressure of the ram and ramming the foundation material to-ecompress the surrounding soil and form an enlarged footing. v

2. The herein described method of forming footed concrete piles in sand or soft earth, consisting in driving a casing having a removable driving cap, into the ground to the full depth to which the pile is to extend, partially filling the: casing with foundation material, ramming said foundation material and simultaneously partially withdrawing the casing to'remove the capand' to provide an unlined cavity beneath the lower end of the casing, continuing the ramming of the foundation" material "to force the same outwardly and beyond the walls of the cavity, thereby compressing the surrounding soil so that an enlarged footing is formed, subsequently filling the casing, and ramming thematerial and finally withdrawing the casing while retaining the material under pressure to cause the material to contact with the walls of the cavity formed by the casing and form a. complete column.

3; The method 0 f forming piles which comprises introducing into a casing a ram adapted to fit snugly wean the interior of the casing and having means to limit downward movement thereof in the casing when said head reaches the lower end of the casing, moving the ram downwardly in the casino until said means becomes operative, sinking the ram' and the easing into the earth, withdrawing the ram,

introducing a plastic foundation material into the casing, again inserting the ram into the casing and moving it downwardly therein until said head rests upon-the upper surface of said material, and withdrawing the casing from about said material while applying said ram to move downwardly in the casing so as tocontinuously act to press material into the cavity formed by the withdrawal of the casing.

t. The method of forming piles which comprises inserting into a casing a ram normally movable with respect to the casing but having thereon means to limit the movement thereof when its end is adjacent the casing end, moving the ram into said casing until said means becomes operative, applying force to the ram to sink the ram and the easing into the earth to the full depth of the pile to be formed, withdrawing the ram, introducing a plastic foundation material into the casing, again inserting the .ram and thercafter'employing the ram to compact and to movesaid material, upon the withdrawal of the; easing, into the cavity presented by such, withdraw f 5. The method of forming piles which comprises sinking a easing into the earth. filling the casing through-out substantially its entire length with. a charge of plastic foundation material, inserting into the casing a heavy rod adapted to rest against the upper surface of said material; and withdrawing .the casing from about said material while allowing the rodof its own weight to slide downwardly in the casing so as to act against said surface to automatically press the material into the cavity formed by the withdrawal of the casing.

6. The method of forming piles which comprises sinking acapped easing into the ground,'partially' filling the casing with a foundation'matemal, inserting a ram intothe casing, partially withdrawing the casing and moving-tho ram downwardly. to removethe cap from the casing and to force the foundation material against and into the surrounding'soil, withdrawing the ram from'the casing, again filling the casing with a foundation material, again inserting the ram in the casing, and completely withdrawing the casing from. about said mater al while allowing the ram to move downw'ardbg in the casing so as to bear continuously against the upper.

surface of said material'to press the, material into the cavity formed by the withdr'anoal of the'casing. I K

[Qficial Gazette'Decemb er 15, 19.25. 

